STUDY OF DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR VETERANS OF SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.

SEC. 666. STUDY OF DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR VETERANS OF SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.(a) Requirement for Study.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of the totality of all current and projected 118 STAT. 1978 disability benefits that are available to disabled members and former members of the Armed Forces for service-connected disabilities and, on the basis of the results of such study, determine the adequacy of those benefits.(2) In carrying out the study, the Secretary shall—(A) compare the disability benefits for members of the Armed Forces with commercial and other private-sector disability benefits plans that are provided for other persons in the United States who are disabled by causes other than service in the Armed Forces; and(B) identify and assess the changes to Department of Defense personnel policies needed to enhance the financial and nonfinancial benefits that are provided to members and former members of the Armed Forces for service-connected disabilities.(b) Coordination.—In carrying out the study under subsection (a) and preparing the report under subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense shall—(1) consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and take into consideration the veterans disability benefits programs that are administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and(2) consult with, and obtain the assistance of, the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission established under title XV of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136; 117 Stat. 1676).(c) Report.—Not later than 150 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report on the results of the study under this section to the committees of Congress specified in subsection (e). The report shall include the following:(1) The Secretary’s assessments, analyses, and conclusions resulting from the study.(2) Recommended legislation to address the deficiencies in the system of Federal Government disability benefits for disabled members and former members of the Armed Forces that are identified in the course of the study.(3) An estimate of the costs of improvements in the system of disability benefits that are provided for in the recommended legislation.(d) GAO Study.—(1) The Comptroller General shall conduct a study to identify the disability benefits that are payable under Federal, State, and local laws for employees of the Federal Government, State governments, and local governments. In carrying out the study, the Comptroller General shall, to the extent feasible, pay particular attention to the disability benefits that are provided for disabilities incurred in the performance of jobs in which employees perform tasks with risks that are analogous to the risks associated with the performance of military tasks by members of the Armed Forces.(2) Not later than November 1, 2005, the Comptroller General shall submit a report on the results of the study under paragraph (1) to the committees of Congress specified in subsection (e).(e) Recipients of Report.—The committees of Congress to which the reports under subsections (d) and (e) are to be submitted are as follows:(1) The Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate.118 STAT. 1979(2) The Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.